Distance learning is NOT just online learning. Students work at home while their teacher works with them on lessons and assignments online. Distance learning is an instructional portal between teachers and students.  Ideally, it is used when in-person instruction is unreasonable or unsafe. For example, teachers may rely on digital forms of communication through messaging apps, chats, video calls and discussion boards, usually within their school’s learning management system. In short, Distance Learning is a method for delivering instruction, not a change in your own teaching style.

With school closures due to COVID-19 , it seems that distance learning is here to stay for this school year. However, taking your classrooms online can be stressful, especially in finding the right curriculum resources.

Below are a series of key links for Distance Learning. Amid the pandemic, many providers are offering resources and services at no charge! Therefore, we are providing free tips and tools to support school closures and transitions to Distance Learning.

• Teaching Through a Pandemic: A Mindset for This Moment – Teacher wellness
• Humanizing Online Teaching – Research by Saint Mary’s College profs (download)

Major Distance Learning Platforms

Zoom: How to set up – for students and parents

• Best Practices for Securing your Virtual Classroom – From Zoom itself
• 10 Ways to Secure Zoom  (Downloadable Info graphic) – easy to use
• Tips & Tricks: Teachers Educating on Zoom – from Zoom, downloadable PDF

Google Classroom– free webservice for file-sharing between teachers and students

• Managing your Google Classroom – tutorial for beginners
• 5 tips every teacher must know about Google Classroom – short & sweet

Schoology – District-wide platform; Schoology Basic free to teachers for remote learning

Nearpod – Live webinars, instructional videos for learning the platform, science resources

• Nearpod & Google Classroom Integration – short video
• Using Nearpod in the Virtual Classroom – Basic Overview video
• Create a Nearpod Lesson (walk-through) – video

Google Hangouts Meet – Chat, or hold video conference with groups

Canvas – Full Distance Learning platform; free to teachers during Covid; often used by IHE

Remind – 2-way communication platform: interacts with other major platforms

Khan Academy – Free Curriculum, Resources

• Using Khan Academy for Remote Learning – webinar for beginners
• 7 effective Tips for Remote Learning with Khan Academy – from Khan’s top presenters

Edgenunity – Online courses/curriculum for MS/HS

Remote Learning Best Practices for Teachers

• Mitigating and Combating Zoom Fatigue in the Classroom – Univ. of Nebraska Med Center PDF
• Sustaining an Equitable Online Community for Sensemaking (UCLA Science Project) – PDF Hyperdoc
• Supporting Students’ Science Learning During COVID-19 (STEM Teaching Tools) multiple languages
• Jamboard – (Google) – Online breakout groups can collaborate on one white board
• OREO Learning Guide – Scroll down – Outstanding PDF that organizes platforms by tools
• Remote Learning Playbook. Free detailed remote learning plan from Techlearning.com
• PBL Remote Learning (Buck Institute/PBL Works) – Online workshops, projects, planners
• Best Practices for Teaching Online Downloadable graphic that puts it altogether (ASU)

Highly Engaging Teaching Resources for Science

• BrainPop – Free short animated video lessons on multiple topics
• Global Oneness Project – Impactful real-world films, lessons, essays -search by NGSS PE’s
• Gizmos – Largest online inquiry-based simulations for math & science
• Phet Interactive Simulations – Searchable science & math, one of the Best!
• Flocabulary – Free during Covid: Hip-hop video engagement for lessons, games, discussions
• PBS Interactive Lessons – search by subject & grade; link to Google Classroom
• TEDEd (6-12) Search a subject, create a lesson
• Virtual Field Trips (Discovery Education) – Includes videos, teacher guides, full lessons
• Explore.org (Annenberg) – LIVE webcams with lessons- from Arctic to Aquarium of the Pacific!

eAssessments

• Quizlet – Free, with new remote learning options, using phones, codes
• Quizzizz – Live quizzes, polls – collections by subject and grade level
• GoFormative – Real-time responses to questions in many formats: upload or by scratch
• Grade Cam – Free to individual teachers to create, score and analyze data
• Kahoot! – Free during Covid-19; make and play learning games

CREATING Digital Media for Lessons

• Padlet – Create a secure “bulletin board” to gather students’ work, organize a ‘gallery walk’
• Flipgrid Remote Learning –Platform to create video-based discussions on classroom topics
• Pear Deck for Google Slides – Make slideshows interactive and check for students’ understanding
• Adobe Spark – Free during Covid, create short videos and graphics
• Screencast-O-Matic – Video creation/screen capture/editing for everyone
• Screencastify (Google Chrome) – capture video with webcam or video of computer screen/tabs
• EdPuzzle – make any video YOUR lesson by editing, embedding questions to create your lesson and assign and check student progress in real-time.
• Educreations – Free during Covid 19: capture, create, integrate, post on the go
• KQED Media Academy for Teachers – SUMMER Courses!  Build skills in video production